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ABSTRACT
Contesting the views that overlook the role of ideology in Chinese labour resistance, this paper argues that ideology accounts for variations of labour activism not only in the perception of labour rights but also in goals and tactics. By using the framing theory, the study explores how ideology shapes labour activism in China. It demonstrates that as alternative ideologies are suppressed in society, labour activists have attempted to construct their distinctive action frames through appropriating the official ideology. The fragmentation of the official ideology provides activists with an opportunity to do so. Strategic framing efforts have produced three patterns of labour activism – moderate, liberal, and radical. Activists employ different strategies of framing alignment they consider most fitting for their exploitation of the official discourse and articulation of their narratives. While the three action frames resonate with workers in varying degrees, liberal activism and radical activism are less tolerated by the government because of their advocacy of collective actions.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1. R. Benford and D. Snow, ‘Framing processes and social movements: an overview and assessment’, Annual Review of Sociology, 26 (2000), pp. 611–639.
2. See, for example, ‘A Statement of the Chinese Labour Forum: Worker Struggle at Jasic and the Chinese Left Wing’ https://www.inmediahk.net/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B/%E4%BD%B3%E5%A3%AB%E5%B7%A5%E4%BA%BA%E9%AC%A5%E7%88%AD%E8%88%87%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E5%B7%A6%E7%BF%BC.
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13. M. Zald, ibid.
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17. E. Goffman, Erving. Frame Analysis (Harper Colophon Book), p. 21.
18. R. Benford and D. Snow, ‘Framing processes and social movements: an overview and assessment’, Annual Review of Sociology, 26 (2000), pp. 611–639.
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27. M. Zald, ‘Culture, ideology, and strategic framing’, in Doug McAdam, John D. McCarthy, and Mayer N. Zald (Eds) Comparative Perspectives on Social Movements (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996), pp. 261–290.
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29. R. Benford. ‘Frame disputes within the nuclear disarmament movement’, Social Forces, 71:3 (1993), pp. 677–701.
30. For this perspective, see J. Conaghan, ‘Critical labour law: the American contribution’, Journal of Law and Society, 14:3 (1987), pp. 334–352.
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32. R. Benford and D. Snow, ‘Framing processes and social movements: an overview and assessment’, Annual Review of Sociology 26 (2000), pp. 611–639.
33. S. Tarrow, Power in Movement: Social Movements and Contentious Politics (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012).
34. R. Benford and D. Snow, ‘Framing processes and social movements: An overview and assessment’, Annual Review of Sociology 26 (2000), pp. 611–639.
35. Ibid.
36. D. Westby, ‘Strategic Imperative, Ideology, and Frames’, in Hank Johnstone and John Noakes (Eds) Frames of Protest (New York: Rowman & Littlefield, 2005), pp. 217–236.
37. R. Benford and D. Snow, ‘Framing Processes and Social Movements: An Overview and Assessment’, Annual Review of Sociology 26 (2000), pp. 611–639.
38. Ibid.
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41. X.H. Yang, Labour NGOs: Labour Movement Agencies in China, PhD dissertation (Hong Kong Baptist University, 2016).
42. I did the fieldwork at this centre in 2002 and visited it a few times in the following decade.
46. Under China’s Hukou system (Household system), urban residents are entitled to a range of welfare benefits denied to peasants with rural hukou.
47. B. Sheehy, ‘Defining CSR: Problems and Solutions’, Journal of Business Ethics 131:3 (2015), pp. 625–648.
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50. China Labour Bulletin, The Workers’ Movement in China, 2011–2012; 2013–2014.
51. In 1990, the National People’s Congress approved the International Labour Organization’s No. 144 Convention calling for ‘tripartite consultation’ between representatives of the government, employers and workers.
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53. Provisions on the Democratic Management of Enterprises was issued 13 February 2012 by the Central Government.
54. Y.C. He, unpublished paper 2018.
56. Interviews with LW staff.
57. S. Philion, ‘An interview with Yan Yuanzhang’, Monthly Review, 13 March 2006, https://mronline.org/2006/03/13/an-interview-with-yan-yuanzhang/
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59. Fieldwork in Zhengzhou in 2003.
60. According to the account of one participant, those workers leading the unionization drive at Jasic were underground activists sent in by the Maoist network to agitate. See Zhang Yueran, ‘Leninists in a Chinese factory’. Made in China 25 June 2020. https://madeinchinajournal.com/category/on-line-first/
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71. China Labour Bulletin, The Annual Report on Chinese Labour Movement (2005).
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